Andrew Laming hits Nine News for defamation over ‘false claims’ in news report
Queensland politician Andrew Laming has launched defamation proceedings against the Nine network over a news report that he claims included false allegations.
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Queensland politician Andrew Laming has launched defamation proceedings against media outlet Nine Network over a news report that he claims included false allegations.
The lawsuit against Nine Network Pty Ltd and TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd comes just weeks after Dr Laming successfully secured a more than $120,000 payout from ABC journalist Louise Milligan, with the sum covered by the public broadcaster.
Dr Laming’s lawyer Rebekah Giles, in a statement, claimed the news report published on March 27 this year “conveyed defamatory imputations” about the MP and did so “without obtaining Dr Laming’s response to the allegations”.
The exclusive Nine News segment included allegations Dr Laming had taken an “upskirting” photo of a woman at a local landscaping business as she bent down to stock a fridge in 2019.
A subsequent investigation by Queensland Police found no evidence a criminal offence had been committed over a photo. It was later revealed the woman had been wearing shorts at the time.
Ms Giles claimed the broadcast by Nine, and as a consequence subsequent republishing of the claims on social media by others, had damaged Dr Laming’s reputation
“Other responsible people in the community have offered apologies or otherwise deleted their posts when alerted of the falsity of the allegations,” she said.
Dr Laming had previously secured apologies from Greens senator Sarah-Hanson Young, Labor senator Murray Watt, former Victorian senator Derryn Hinch, and Queensland Labor state MP Don Brown.
According to Ms Giles’ statement, Nine had “refused to apologise to Dr Laming despite multiple requests over a protracted period of time”.
Nine has been approached for comment.
The broadcaster had in May confirmed it had received a legal letter from Dr Laming in relation to the news reports and at the time vowed to “defend any proceedings he may choose to commence”.
The Federal Court in Sydney, in early August, made orders for ABC journalist Ms Milligan to pay damages and legal costs — a sum expected to be at least $120,000.
Dr Laming will retire at the next election, with the LNP picking Henry Pike as the replacement candidate in the seat of Bowman.
Mr Pike was officially ratified as the LNP’s candidate for the federal seat of Bowman at a meeting of the party’s state executive on Friday.
Mr Pike’s tumultuous journey to candidacy included an apology days out from the preselection vote for sexist text messages sent during his time as a Young Liberal in the ACT.
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